You can lay out a building system design by adding mechanical, electrical, and plumbing equipment to your drawing or modifying the layout as the design changes.
In the software, equipment is referred to as Multi-view Parts, MvParts, or parts. MvParts model the size and shape of a part, and they can intelligently connect to AutoCAD MEP 2023 toolset parts. The software includes hundreds of MvParts commonly used in commercial, institutional, and industrial building systems. You can place these parts accurately in your drawing and also modify their size, elevation, or location. The following topics in the Help system provide you with further information:
| MvPart | Adding | Modifying |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical | Adding Electrical Equipment | Modifying Electrical Equipment |
| Pipe | Adding Pipe Equipment | Modifying Pipe Equipment |
| Duct | Adding HVAC Equipment | Modifying HVAC Equipment |
| Plumbing (and fixtures) | Adding Plumbing Equipment and Fixtures | Modifying Plumbing Equipment and Fixtures |
MvParts are organized by type and stored in part catalogs. You or your CAD manager can customize part catalogs or create custom parts to meet company standards or project requirements.
The part catalogs available to you during a drawing session are specified in the initialization preferences.
Architectural drawings referenced in an AutoCAD MEP 2023 toolset drawing can contain MvBlock parts that might be useful as MvParts. MvBlocks are similar to MvParts in that they can be viewed from different directions (such as isometric or orthographic). However, MvBlocks cannot connect intelligently in a building system. Instead, you can convert MvBlocks into MvParts and then assign engineering information and connectors to them for use in the building system.
For example, in the HVAC workspace, the reference drawing may contain an MvBlock of an air grille that you want to connect to your HVAC network. You can convert the grille to an MvPart with duct connections. Similarly, a plumbing drawing might contain a sink as an MvBlock that you want to connect to your plumbing system. You can convert the sink to an MvPart and then specify the water supply and drain connectors.
The following sections describe the different types of equipment.